The Film Council’s Chief Executive Officer, John Woodward, has applauded the talent within the UK film industry, following actress Kate Winslet and director Ken Loach’s success at the European Film Awards held in Rome over the weekend. Winslet was awarded Best Actress, voted for by the viewing public, for her role in the film Iris, which also starred Dame Judi Dench. Meanwhile, Loach’s Sweet Sixteen won the European Critics’ Prize. Woodward commented: ‘We are proud not only for Ken Loach in winning European Critics’ Award for Sweet Sixteen and Kate Winslet for receiving the People’s Choice award as Best European Actress... but also this year’s other UK European Film Award nominees, including Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham), Lynne Ramsey (Morvern Callar), Paul Greengrass (Bloody Sunday) and Peter Mullan (The Magdalene Sisters).’ ‘Their success at the European Film Awards is testament to the pool of talent working in the UK film industry,’ he said.